Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue, Which all men speak with him. Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid? Enter APEMANTUS. Jew. We will bear, with your lordship. Mer. row; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not. Apem. Are they not Athenians? Tim. Yes. Apem. Then I repent not. Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou knowest, I do: I called thee by thy name. Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus. Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon. Tim. Whither art going. Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Tim. That's a deed thou❜lt die for. Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? Apem. The best for the innocence. Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. Pain. You are a dog. Apem. Thy mother's of my generation. What's she, if I be a dog? Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? Apem. No; I eat not lords. Tim. An thou shouldst, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords: so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it. Take it for thy labor. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus ? Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing,1 which will not cost a man a doit. Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet? Poet. How now, philosopher? Apem. Thou liest. Poet. Art not one? Apem. Yes. Poet. Then I lie not. Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feigned; he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o'the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What wouldst do then, Apemantus? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart. Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay. Tim. Wherefore? Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.2Art not thou a merchant? Mer. Ay, Apemantus. Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not! 1 Alluding to the proverb: Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it die beggars. 2 This line is corrupt, undoubtedly, and none of the emendations or substitutions that have been proposed are satisfactory. Perhaps we should read, “That I had (now angry) wished to be a lord;” or, “That I had (so angry) will to be a lord." Malone proposed to point the passage thus, "That I had no angry wit. To be a lord!" and explains it, "That I had no wit [or discretion] in my anger, but was absurd enough to wish myself one of that set of men whom I despise." These are the best helps which have been afforded towards a solution of this enigmatical passage, and it must be confessed they are feeble. Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee. Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant. Tim. What trumpet's that? Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship.1 us. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to [Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me:-Go not you hence, Till I have thanked you;—and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your sights. Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, sir! [They salute. Арет. So, so; there!— Aches contract and starve your supple joints!— knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey." Alcib. Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim. In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS. Enter two Lords. 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest. 1 i. e. Alcibiades' companions. 2 Man is degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey. 3 It has been before observed that to depart and to part were anciently synonymous. 1 Lord. That time serves still. Apem. The most accursed thou,' that still omit'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast? Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus? Apem. Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none. 1 Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend. 2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Exit. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in, And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance.3 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever governed man. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. 1 Ritson says we should read: "The more accursed thou." 2 Meed here means desert. [Exeunt. 3 i. e. all the customary returns made in discharge of obligations. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in Timon's House. Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending. Then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants.-Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly. Ven. Most honored Timon, 't hath pleased the gods to remember My father's age, and call him to long peace. Tim. O, by no means, If our betters play at that game, we must not dare [They all stand, ceremoniously, looking on TIMON. Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony Was but devised at first to set a gloss On faint deeds, hollow welcomes, Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown; But where there is true friendship, there needs none. Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, Than my fortunes to me. [They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confessed it. Apem. Ho, ho, confessed it? hanged it,2 have you not? 1 "The faults of rich persons wear a plausible appearance." 2 There seems to be some allusion to a common proverbial saying of Shakspeare's time, "Confess and be hanged.” |